Ember Hill left the dragon organization Talon to take her chances with rebel dragon Cobalt and his crew of rogues. But Ember can’t forget the sacrifice made for her by the human boy who could have killed her—Garret Xavier Sebastian, a soldier of the dragonslaying Order of St. George, the boy who saved her from a Talon assassin, knowing that by doing so, he’d signed his own death warrant.
Determined to save Garret from execution, Ember must convince Cobalt to help her break into the Order’s headquarters. With assassins after them and Ember’s own brother helping Talon with the hunt, the rogues find an unexpected ally in Garret and a new perspective on the underground battle between Talon and St. George.
A reckoning is brewing and the secrets hidden by both sides are shocking and deadly. Soon Ember must decide: Should she retreat to fight another day…or start an all-out war?
Quote 1:
“There are a dozen St. George soldiers hiding in that maze,” my trainer said. “All hunting you. All looking to kill you. Welcome to Phase Two of your training, hatchling.”
Implanted by Heather Letto
(Ascension #2)
Publication date: June 2015
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult
Book Summary (Goodreads):
After a narrow escape from the city of Impervious, Fran’s heart aches for the ones she left behind. Will her brother ever connect the dots? And, what about Pete? Could he, along with the remaining Rebels, have survived the Council’s violent oppression?
As Fran ponders the fate of her friends, an even more disturbing revelation drops into her world—the knowledge that she, along with anyone who had lived underground remains implanted with the sinister presence of the Council. A fate rendering her powerless to save.
Yet one with pure blood, untouched by the Council’s defiling, lives among them. Could he be the new lifeline of hope? Is salvation of the city worth risking the life of this one-and-only?
Purchase book 1: In keeping with the spirit of celebration–for reveal day only–all IMPERVIOUS (Ascension Series Book 1) Kindle downloads will be .99! This new edition of Impervious includes a Glossary of Terms and thought-provoking Discussion Questions.
I’m a book-writing, selfie-taking, latte-drinking, social media gal. I’m living a good life on the road as a full-fledged Bedouin (Well, except, my tent is actually a fully-equipped RV.) Me and my partner-in-crime (Benj) tend to hunker down wherever the skies are clear and the temps stay in the 70’s. We call ourselves Gypsy Nerds because we aimlessly wander the U.S. with glasses perched upon our noses and faces jammed into computer screens (for the first half the day… The second half of the day is typically devoted to playing because we’re also somewhat immature.)Like most authors, the characters I create are my extended family. And like most readers, when the story ends, I get a little sad. In real life, I have two handsome, hardworking, grown-up boys who know how to make their Mama proud! *Waves to Joey and Mike!*The Ascension Series is my debut into the world of YA fiction.I’m living what I love and loving what I live!
I am so excited that AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir releases today and that I get to share the news, along with a special introduction from Sabaa herself!
If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author Sabaa Tahir, be sure to check out all the details below. This blitz also includes a giveaway for a signed copies of the book and some of those awesome sword letter openers we’ve seen around courtesy of Sabaa, Penguin Teen, and Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.
A letter from Sabaa Tahir:
Dear Readers,
Today, my “baby” AN EMBER IN THE ASHES is finally out in the world! From inception to pub date, this journey took eight years. And what a journey it was: writing, rewriting, revising, editing, querying, submitting; Meeting other debuts, bloggers, booksellers and librarians, and hearing their thoughts on EMBER. There aren’t enough superlatives to describe the radness.
And now, the book is here! I am so excited to see it in the hands of readers. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. To celebrate release day, I’m giving away two signed, first-edition hardcovers of the book. Details below!
All my best,
Sabaa
Title: AN EMBER IN THE ASHES Author: Sabaa Tahir
Pub. Date: April 28, 2015
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 464
I WILL TELL YOU THE SAME THING I TELL EVERY SLAVE.THE RESISTANCE HAS TRIED TO PENETRATE THIS SCHOOL COUNTLESS TIMES. I HAVE DISCOVERED IT EVERY TIME.IF YOU ARE WORKING WITH THE RESISTANCE, IF YOU CONTACT THEM, IF YOU THINK OF CONTACTING THEM, I WILL KNOWAND I WILL DESTROY YOU.
Laia is a slave.
Elias is a soldier.
Neither is free.Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.
There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.
Check out the book trailer!
About the Author:
Sabaa Tahir grew up in California’s Mojave Desert at her family’s 18-room motel. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother’s comic book stash and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks and all things nerd. Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.
Regan Flay has been talking about you.Regan Flay is on the cusp of achieving her control-freak mother’s “plan” for high school success―cheerleading, student council, the Honor Society—until her life gets turned horribly, horribly upside down. Every bitchy text. Every bitchy email. Every lie, manipulation, and insult she’s ever said have been printed out and taped to all the lockers in school. Now Regan has gone from popular princess to total pariah.The only person who even speaks to her is her former best friend’s hot but socially miscreant brother, Nolan Letner. Nolan thinks he knows what Regan’s going through, but whatnobody knows is that Regan isn’t really Little Miss Perfect. In fact, she’s barely holding it together under her mom’s pressure.But the consequences of Regan’s fall from grace are only just beginning. Once the chain reaction starts, no one will remain untouched…Especially Regan Flay.
Cole Gibsen first realized she different when, in high school, she was still reading comic books while the other girls were reading fashion magazines.
It was her love of superheroes that first inspired her to pick up a pen. Her favorite things to write about are ordinary girls who find themselves in extraordinary situations.
Thrust into a world of men, can a timid girl find bravery as the first female Death?
Thirteen-year-old Suzie Sarnio always believed the Grim Reaper was a fairy tale image of a skeleton with a scythe. Now, forced to enter the College of Deaths, she finds herself training to bring souls from the Living World to the Hereafter. The task is demanding enough, but as the only female in the all-male College, she quickly becomes a target. Attacked by both classmates and strangers, Suzie is alone in a world where even her teachers want her to fail.
Scythes hungry for souls, Deaths who subjugate a race of mysterious magicians, and echoes of an ancient war with Dragons.
As her year progresses, Suzie suspects her presence isn’t an accident. She uncovers a plot to overthrow the World of Deaths. Now she must also discover the reason she’s been brought there: the first female Death in a million years.
When I was 8, mom and dad took my brother Joe and me to DisneyWorld in Florida. The park was amazing, and the trip was so much fun. It’s the only time I’ve ever been there. I really liked Space Mountain, because it was a ride but it was also in the dark. When we were driving home, dad got a flat tire, and we were stuck for two hours on the side of the road. We were really tired and hot, but mom said that we were so well behaved both Joe and I had ice cream for dinner that night. I had so much ice cream, I could hardly move. It was great.
Name: Billy Black
Age: 15
Gender: male
Birthplace: Hartford, Connecticut
Occupation: student Death
Hobbies: boskery
Name: Sindril
Age: 48
gender: male
Birthplace: New York City
Occupation: Headmaster of the College of Deaths
Hobbies: reading, extra Reapings
How Theatre can help a Writer:
As a full-time theatre teacher, and stage actor for over twenty years, I’ve been fortunate enough to pursue both of my greatest passions (writing and theatre) professionally. I’d like to share some tips on how theatre can help writers.
Theatre in a non-linear process
If you don’t have time to write a book from start to stop, you’re not alone. Part-time writers need to be able to write their story whenever they get a chance- picking up the story wherever they left off. My advice: become an actor in a play. The more shows you’re in, the more you’ll get used to thinking non-linearly. Even if a play takes place in chronological order, you never practice a show like that. You’ll pick up in the middle, work one scene, then start a different scene. You need to be able to keep the chronology of a play in mind when starting in the middle. Eventually this skill becomes second-nature, and will allow you to pick up a draft in the middle with no trouble at all.
Theatre builds dialogue skills
Have trouble writing believable dialogue? Plays and musicals are nothing BUT dialogue. You get used to language in a new way, by not just speaking it, but practicing speaking in different ways. This builds skill at writing and using dialogue effectively in any setting. Trying to incorporate appropriate methods of speaking into your characters voices can be very helpful.
Theatre builds confidence
A number of authors at my publishing house Muse It Up have mentioned feeling hesitant about in-person events. The image of a reclusive writer, afraid of the world, is perhaps overblown, but to be fair- writing is an insular process. What better remedy to isolation than jumping onstage in front of strangers. Sound terrifying? In a way, it’s not you up there at all. Drama provides a “mask” – in that it’s your character onstage, not you at all. If I was asked to read a script onstage I feel fine, but if I was aksed to tell my own story I might get nervous. I reach into myself, and draw on that “mask” – becoming the character of myself. It alleviates any nerves I might feel.
About the Author:
Christopher Mannino’s life is best described as an unending creative outlet. He teaches high school theatre in Greenbelt, Maryland. In addition to his daily drama classes, he runs several after-school performance/production drama groups. He spends his summers writing and singing. Mannino holds a Master of Arts in Theatre Education from Catholic University, and has studied mythology and literature both in America and at Oxford University. His work with young people helped inspire him to write young adult fantasy, although it was his love of reading that truly brought his writing to life.
Mannino is currently working on a sequel to “School of Deaths” as well as an adult science fiction novel.
Scary Talon Lady leaned back in her chair and crossed her long legs, still continuing to watch me with the unblinking stare of a predator.
“Well, here we are,” she said at last. “And I bet you’re wondering why, aren’t you?” She raised an eyebrow at my continued silence. “Don’t be afraid to talk to me, hatchling. At least, not today. Talon’s senior vice president himself asked me to take over your training, but right now this is just an introduction. Student to teacher.” The faint smile vanished then, and her voice went hard. “Make no mistake about it-after today, things will become much more difficult. You are going to struggle, and you are going to get hurt. It is not going to be easy for you. SO, if you ahve any questions, hatchling, now is the time to ask them.”
My stomach twisted. “What am I being trained for?” I almost whispered.
“Survival.”
-Talon, Julie Kagawa
Book Summary (Goodreads):
Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they’re positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.
Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.
Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon’s newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember’s bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.
Lilith AKA “Scary Talon Lady”
Lilith is Scary Talon Lady from Talon by Julie Kagawa. She is the lead protagonist’s (Ember’s) trainer. She teachers Ember all of what it means to be a dragon and what it is to be a part of the Talon organization. She also rocks when it comes to fighting and teachers Ember how to fight. She’s very tough on Ember and is constantly pushing Ember to the limits. She is cold, heartless, and to me, seems pretty empty and hollow inside. Her allegiance is with Talon and she will do whatever it takes to keep Talon safe. But I can’t help but wonder, does she have ulterior motives?
What makes Lilith a great villain?
When I first read Talon, I was immediately captured by Scary Talon Lady, as Ember calls her throughout most the book. She’s cold, rough, tough, and one of my favorite villains. Not only is she a dragon and part of Talon’s elite warriors, but she’s also a Viper. Throughout the entire story we aren’t necessarily sure of what a Viper is until towards the end. I think even the Vipers all on their own are pretty bad ass. Their purpose is to hunt down and assassinate the rogue dragons that have separated themselves from Talon. And they want Ember to become a Viper. Lilith is ruthless, with blonde hair. She reminds me of an uptight business woman. But holy cow can she fight! Something I always look for in a villain is how evil and sinister they can be, but at the same time how likable they can be. I like her because of how cold and ruthless she is.
It’s also interesting because Lilith wants Ember to be a part of the Vipers and gives her several chances to prove herself. I think Lilith is fascinated by Ember’s abilities and knows she has alot to offer.
One of the best parts in the book is when Lilith turns into a dragon and has the most epic battle scene I have ever read. Dragons fight dragons off the coast of California. Can it get any cooler than that? Not to mention when one of those dragons is a Viper, and one of the meanest, coldest, evilest villains you will ever encounter.
I think Lilith’s villain character type is THE EVIL GENIUS: “the malevolent mastermind, he/she loves to show off their superior intelligence. Intellectual inferiors are contemptible to him/her and that includes just about everyone. Elaborate puzzles and experiments are their trademark. Don’t let them pull your strings – the game is always rigged in their favor.” But that is definitely up for debate. What villain type do you think she is? Check out more villain types here! Leave your opinions in the comments below!
What do you think of Lilith as a villain?
Rogue is out next Tuesday (the sequel to Talon) and I cannot wait to see Lilith and the Vipers again. I hope she will at least make an appearance, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that she’s in it the majority of the time!
Book Summary (Goodreads):
Ember Hill left the dragon organization Talon to take her chances with rebel dragon Cobalt and his crew of rogues. But Ember can’t forget the sacrifice made for her by the human boy who could have killed her—Garret Xavier Sebastian, a soldier of the dragonslaying Order of St. George, the boy who saved her from a Talon assassin, knowing that by doing so, he’d signed his own death warrant.
Determined to save Garret from execution, Ember must convince Cobalt to help her break into the Order’s headquarters. With assassins after them and Ember’s own brother helping Talon with the hunt, the rogues find an unexpected ally in Garret and a new perspective on the underground battle between Talon and St. George.
A reckoning is brewing and the secrets hidden by both sides are shocking and deadly. Soon Ember must decide: Should she retreat to fight another day…or start an all-out war?
ANYONE ELSE AS EXCITED AS ME?! Tuesday can’t come faster!
Welcome to the Author’s Handbook! These posts are dedicated to helping all aspiring authors out there with archetypes, fictional tips, and questions to help you brainstorm your worlds. I hope you all find these posts helpful and a great source for your writing needs. Enjoy!
What drives your villain? What creates them? Why are they against your hero? Explore these basic descriptions to help you explore the world of Villains.
The TRAITOR: the double agent, betrays those who trust them most. No one suspects the evil that lurks in his/her heart. Despite supportive smiles and sympathetic ears, they plot the destruction of his/her friends or allies. Never turn your back on them — they mean you harm.
The TYRANT: the bullying despot, the tyrant wants power at any price. Wants to ruthlessly conquer all he/she surveys, crushing their enemies beneath their feet. People are but pawns to him/her, and he/she holds all the power pieces. Hesitate before getting in this one’s way – they’ll think nothing of destroying you.
The BASTARD: the dispossessed son or daughter that burns with resentment. He/she can’t have what they want, so they lash out to hurt those around them. Their deeds are often for effect and wants to provoke action in others. He/She proudly announces their rebellious dealings. Don’t be fooled by their youthful demeanor – they’re a bundle of hate.
The DEVIL: the charming fiend that gives people what he/she thinks they deserve. Charisma allows them to lure his/her victims to their own destruction. His/Her ability to discover the moral weaknesses in others serves him/her well. Close your ears to their cajolery – they’ll tempt you to disaster.
The OUTCAST: the lonely outsider that wants desperately to belong. Tortured and unforgiving, they have been set off from others, and usually for a good cause. He/She craves redemption, but is willing to gain it by sacrificing others. Waste no sympathy on them – they’ll have none for you.
The TERRORIST: the dark knight, he/she serves a warped code of honor. Self-righteous, they believe in their own virtue, and judges all around them by a strict set of laws. The end will always justify the nefarious means, and no conventional morality will give them pause. Don’t try to appeal to his/her sense of justice – theirs will not resemble yours.
The EVIL GENIUS: the malevolent mastermind, he/she loves to show off their superior intelligence. Intellectual inferiors are contemptible to him/her and that includes just about everyone. Elaborate puzzles and experiments are their trademark. Don’t let them pull your strings – the game is always rigged in their favor.
The SADIST: the savage predator that enjoys cruelty for its own sake. Violence and psychological brutality are games to this person; and they play those games with daring and skill. Run, don’t walk, away from this sadist – they’ll tear out your heart, and laugh while doing it.
The BITCH: the abusive autocrat, she or he lies, cheats, and steals their way to the top. Her/His climb to success has left many a heel mark on the backs of others. She/He doesn’t care about the peons around her/him – only the achievement of their dreams matter. Forget expecting a helping hand from her/him – they don’t help anyone but themselves.
The LUNATIC: the unbalanced madwoman/madman that draws others into their crazy environment. The drum to which she/he marches misses many a beat, but to them, it is the rest of the world that is out of step. Don’t even try to understand a lunatics logic – it is unfathomable.
The BLACK WIDOW: the beguiling siren, she lures victims into her web. She goes after anyone who has something she wants, and she wants a lot. But she does her best to make the victim want to be deceived. An expert at seduction of every variety, she uses her charms to get her way. Don’t be fooled by her claims of love – it’s all a lie. Don’t be fooled, either, that this only pertains to women.
The BACKSTABBER: the two-faced friend that delights in duping the unsuspecting. Their sympathetic smiles enable them to learn their victims’ secrets, which she/he then uses to feather her/his nest. Their seemingly helpful advice is just the thing to hinder. Put no faith in the backstabber – they’ll betray you every time.
The PARASITE: the poisonous vine that collaborates for their own comfort. She/He goes along with any atrocity, so long as her/his own security is assured. They see themselves as a victim who had no choice, and blames others for their crimes. Expect no mercy from them – she/he won’t lift a finger to save anyone but themselves.
The SCHEMER: the lethal plotter that devises the ruin of others. Like a cat with a mouse, he/she plays with lives. Elaborate plans, intricate schemes; nothing pleases them more than to trap the unwary. Watch out for their complex designs – he/she means you no good.
The FANATIC: the uncompromising extremist that does wrong in the name of good. He/She justifies their actions by their intent, and merely shrugs their shoulders at collateral damage. Anyone not an ally is an enemy, and therefore, fair game. Give up any hope of showing them the error of their ways – they firmly believe you are wrong, wrong, wrong.
The MATRIARCH: the motherly oppressor, she smothers her loved ones. She knows what’s best and will do all in her power to controls the lives of those who surround her – all for their own good. A classic enabler, she sees no fault with her darlings, unless they don’t follow her dictates. Don’t be lured into her family nest – you’ll never get out alive.
A Necklace of Souls
by R.L. Stedman
Release Date: 12/19/14
339 pages
Summary from Goodreads:
‘A true dream is when the events I see in my sleep have, or will happen. It’s a talent that runs in my family. I was thirteen when I had my first true dream.’
Will’s Aunt says the Kingdom of the Rose is the most fortunate of lands. But Will hates the place – his uncle and aunt are horrible, and he misses his parents. Oh, how he misses them.
Dana wishes she wasn’t a princess. She’s always being told how to behave, what to wear. There’s a strangeness in the castle – why will no one talk about the Guardian, or the necklace that protects the land? And why does her father look at her with such sorrow? The collier’s cart seems the perfect escape. Only she didn’t realize she’d become so dirty, or so lost. Fortunately this boy, Will, has a sense of direction. And next to the forbidding stranger, N’tombe, he seems reassuringly normal.
Welcome to A Necklace of Souls: a story of love and loss, of shattered lives and desperate hopes. In the Kingdom of the Rose, bravery is not always measured by strength and magic is real, if only one has the courage to dream.
Shortlisted for the Sir Julius Vogel Award, A Necklace of Souls was awarded the Tessa Duder Award for Young Adult Fiction, Best First Book at the New Zealand Post Children and Young Adult Book Awards and is a Storylines Notable Book.
My name is Rachel Stedman. I’m a physiotherapist (physical therapist) by background, but now I work as a freelance contractor. I live in the wild and windy place of Dunedin, New Zealand, with my husband and two kids.
I write mostly for children and young adults. In 2012 I won the Tessa Duder Award for an unpublished YA work and my first novel, A Necklace of Souls, was published by HarperCollins in 2013 (available in the United Kingdom and on Book Depository from June 2015). This year, A Necklace of Souls was awarded Best First Book at the 2014 New Zealand Post Book Awards and won a Notable Book Award from Storylines. Inner Fire is my second novel.
(The Dark Cycle #1)
Published by: Skyscape
Publication date: July 1st 2015
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Synopsis:
Aidan O’Linn’s childhood ended the night he saw a demon kill his mother and mark his sister, Ava, with Darkness. Since then, every three years the demons have returned to try to claim her. Living in the gritty, forgotten corners of Los Angeles, Aidan has managed to protect his sister, but he knows that even his powers to fight demons and speak dead languages won’t keep her safe for much longer.
In desperation, Aidan seeks out the help of Sid, the enigmatic leader of a rag-tag group of teens who run LA Paranormal, an Internet reality show that fights demons and ghosts. With them, Aidan believes he’s finally found a haven for Ava. But then he meets Kara, a broken girl who can spin a hypnotic web of passionate energy, and she awakens powers inside of him he didn’t know he had―and unleashes a new era of war between the forces of Light and the forces of Darkness.
With the fate of humanity in his hands, can Aidan keep the Darkness held back and accept his terrifying destiny, or will he and his sister fall to the same fate as their mother?
Rachel A. Marks is a cancer survivor, a writer and artist, a surfer and dirt-bike rider, chocolate lover and keeper of faerie secrets. Her four kids and amazing hubby put up with her nerdiness with tremendous grace, even when she makes them watch Buffy or Smallville re-runs for days on end. She was voted: Most Likely To Survive A Zombie Apocalypse, but hopes she’ll never have to test the theory. Darkness Brutal is her first novel.
Author links:
Chapter Excerpt:
I let the pulse of the music coat me and mute my surroundings. A mass of people crowd the dance floor of the club, and I sit on an abandoned couch in the corner. The lights beat at the air in blues and greens, and bodies twist and merge to the thunder. I lean back, close my eyes, and try to get lost in it, the smells and sounds of people and their collective high.
Something moves next to me. I look over to find a girl sprawled on the seat beside me, trying to catch her breath. She’s not dressed in the usual club gear, more like a girl who got lost on her way to a beach party: Hurley T-shirt, jean skirt, and red Converse. Her cheeks are flushed pink; her throat and forehead glitter with sweat. She glances at me like she didn’t know I was there. She licks her upper lip, her eyes not leaving mine. Then she says something I can’t hear.
I point to my ear and shake my head.
She smiles and laughs, lighting up the space around her. She rests her hand on my arm, like we’re friends and I just told her the most hilarious joke, and then she gets up and disappears into the mass of bodies again.
My arm tingles, my body reacting to the moment of contact in a sudden and disconcerting way. I think I’ve had my fill of watching people indulge their baser instincts. I need to get out of here.
The beat of the music speeds up, vibrating faster as I move through the crowd. I try not to touch anyone, which is nearly impossible. All the emotions and appetites are overwhelming, as if the rising rhythm of the music makes their yearnings rise, too. Lust buzzes in the air. A hunger stirs in me, a gaping hole, needing to be filled. With touch.
The touch of female fingers. A hand on my arm, taking my wrist, pulling me into the fray, into the pressing bodies. And I don’t try to escape. I let her take me.
Because I’m tired.
Because I’m a dumbass.
A girl moves in front of me—not the Hurley girl, not the one I was hoping for. She presses closer, so close I can almost taste the salty perspiration on her skin. She has thin, birdlike shoulders, a swan neck, a heart-shaped face, and black hair, long and tangled, turning blue and green with the light. Her hands slide up my chest. She wraps her arms around my neck and tilts her head to look up at me.
Her lips are full and painted dark purple. There’s a dimple in her left cheek that gets deeper with her growing smile. And her eyes . . .
Fog fills my head for a second, interrupting my thoughts.
“Hi,” she mouths, calling attention to her lips again.
And then she’s rising up on her toes, pulling me down to her, twisting her fingers in my hair, her lips smashing against mine.
My body buzzes from her touch, and my hands react, drawing her into me. I drink her in. She tastes like the air around me, hunger and urgency, and—
Green apple Jolly Ranchers?
I grip her sides, her ribs so delicate beneath my fingers. The sweet tang of her teases me, the hunger becoming a monster deep inside. I have to press her closer, tighter, try to feed it, as I feel the fire of her need link with mine.
She pulls back a little and looks at me with wide eyes, like she’s shocked. That’s when I see the mark, a glowing, blue-inked line of what looks like Chinese symbols, trailing down the nape of her neck to her shoulder blade. Symbols that I’m suddenly sure mean: touch this girl at your own risk.
It’s the only thing I see for a second: Beware. Beware.
Until her energy reaches for me, wispy tendrils of blue light wrapping their way around my wrists and snaking up my chest.
I jerk away, into the guy behind me, stepping on his girlfriend’s toes. I get shoved— thankfully farther from the hypnotic girl—through a space in the crowd, saying a hundred excuse-me’s even though I know no one can hear them. I find my way out of the press of bodies to the edge of the room again where it’s safe.
For Piper Marks, the answer is simple. She’s determined to have her photography rock the cover of National Geographic someday, and moving to Clarkton, Iowa for her last year of high school is not going to stop her. Even if her usual subjects have changed from bright lights and skyscrapers to fields, cows…and more fields.
But when photographer at the local paper quits in a huff, she steps into his spot. Her new job keeps Piper busy capturing tackles, and zooming in on first downs and end zone dances, not to mention putting her directly in the path of varsity football star Les Williams IV. Her new friends warn her off, but she can’t resist the pull she feels toward this mysterious country boy. But this small town is keeping a secret, and it’s one that could destroy any chance they have to be together.
It’s up to Piper to decide what to do with the distorted truth. Can she risk exposing her heart? It might be worth it, ’cause Les is about to change her world from black and white to fully saturated color.
Praise for Pixelated:
“In Pixelated, L.S. Murphy weaves a complex web of secrets and lies with a ‘will they or won’t they’ romance that kept me turning pages and holding my breath!” ~ Julie Reece, author of The Artisans and Crux
“Beautifully written, with a full spectrum of emotion and complex characters, Pixelated will tug at all your heartstrings. I easily lost myself in the world L.S. Murphy created and couldn’t stop reading because I needed to see how the story ended.” ~ Kelly Oram, author of Cinder & Ella
“L.S. Murphy brings something for every reader with Pixelated: romance, secrets, mystery, and a main character torn between two choices. Murphy’s writing is sharp and steeped in emotions, deftly hooking her readers from the first sentence to the last.” ~ Sarah Bromley, author of A Murder Of Magpies
About the Author:
L.S. Murphy obsesses about St. Louis Cardinals baseball, fangirls over her favorite authors, and watches every episode of Doctor Who like it’s the first time. When she’s not doing those time-consuming things, the former farm-girl turned city slicker turned suburbanite writes sweet romances for teens and adults.
The Page Unbound 